17/01/2012

Fire by Kristin Cashore

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It is not a peaceful time in the Dells. The young King Nash clings to his throne while rebel lords in the north and south build armies to unseat him. The mountains and forests are filled with spies and thieves and lawless men.
This is where Fire lives. With a wild, irresistible appearance and hair the color of flame, Fire is the last remaining human monster. Equally hated and adored, she has the unique ability to control minds, but she guards her power, unwilling to steal the secrets of innocent people. Especially when she has so many of her own.
Then Prince Brigan comes to bring her to King City. The royal family needs her help to uncover the plot against the king. Far away from home, Fire begins to realize there's more to her power than she ever dreamed. Her power could save the kingdom.
If only she weren't afraid of becoming the monster her father was.
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It took me quite a while to get into this book, as I had expected the setting to be more like Graceling, but I ended up really enjoying it and fell in love with Fire and all her limitations. Unlike so many other heroines she's severely limited by her powers as well as her past.

I think my chief complaint about the book is Archer and her relationship with him. They're supposed to be childhood friends and now.. something more? but the way they act around each other seems off to me. And he's just a massive jerkface. Brigan on the other hand sounds like a great guy!

Another issue is that of the main villain. I can't say too much as it would give too much away, but I think it's a bit anticlimactic and he's a bit too... boring. Simple, even.

Over all though it's one of the better books I've read in a while, it was well written and it drew me in.